Eight years after a shock Fiji win led to Warren Gatland
becoming Welsh coach the sides meet again in a crucial Rugby World Cup pool game.
POOL A – Match #21 – Wales v Fiji | ||||
Overall Stats Wales | vs | Overall Stats Fiji | ||
Average Score : Wales 30.60 vs 13.20 Fiji | ||||
Games Played | 10 | Games Played | 10 | |
*Games Won | 8 | *Games Won | 1 | |
*Games Lost | 1 | *Games Lost | 8 | |
Games Drawn | 1 | Games Drawn | 1 | |
*Longest.Winning.Streak | 6 | *Longest.Winning.Streak | 1 | |
*Longest Losing Streak | 1 | *Longest Losing Streak | 6 | |
*Largest Points For | 66 | *Largest Points For | 38 | |
*Largest Points Against | 38 | *Largest Points Against | 66 | |
*Largest.Winning.Margin | 66 | *Largest.Winning.Margin | 4 | |
*Largest Losing Margin | -4 | *Largest Losing Margin | -66 | |
*Total Points For | 306 | *Total Points For | 132 | |
*Avg Points For | 30.6 | *Avg Points For | 13.2 | |
*Total Points Against | 132 | *Total Points Against | 306 | |
*Avg Points Against | 13.2 | *Avg Points Against | 30.6 | |
*Total Points Difference | 174 | *Total Points Difference | -174 | |
*Avg Points Difference | 17.40 | *Avg Points Difference | -17.40 | |
* = By Wales | * = By Fiji |
Past Meetings | |||||
15-Nov-14 | Wales | 17 | 13 | Fiji | Cardiff, Wales |
2-Oct-11 | Wales | 66 | 0 | Fiji | Hamilton, New Zealand |
19-Nov-10 | Wales | 16 | 16 | Fiji | Cardiff, Wales |
29-Sep-07 | Wales | 34 | 38 | Fiji | Nantes, France |
11-Nov-05 | Wales | 11 | 10 | Fiji | Cardiff, Wales |
9-Nov-02 | Wales | 58 | 14 | Fiji | Cardiff, Wales |
11-Nov-95 | Wales | 19 | 15 | Fiji | Cardiff, Wales |
18-Jun-94 | Fiji | 8 | 23 | Wales | Suva, Fiji |
31-May-86 | Fiji | 15 | 22 | Wales | Suva, Fiji |
9-Nov-85 | Wales | 40 | 3 | Fiji | Cardiff, Wales |
POSSIBLE RR World Rankings outcome on Result
WAL (on 87.29 points) at home -vs- FIJ (on 76.29 points) in a RWC match
Possible Outcome | Rating Point Exchange |
New WAL Rating |
New FIJ Rating |
Will FIJ overtake WAL? |
---|---|---|---|---|
If WAL win by 1-15 points | 0.000 | 87.29 | 76.29 | No |
If WAL win by more than 15 | 0.000 | 87.29 | 76.29 | No |
If result is a draw | 2.000 | 85.29 | 78.29 | No |
If FIJ win by 1-15 points | 4.000 | 83.29 | 80.29 | No |
If FIJ win by more than 15 | 6.000 | 81.29 | 82.29 | Yes |
In 2007 in Nantes, the Fijians won a thrilling encounter 38-34, costing Gareth Jenkins his job and sending the Welsh crashing out of the tournament.
Following Saturday’s win over England, an unlikely loss wouldn’t end Wales’ hopes, but it would undo a lot of the good work they did at Twickenham.
For that reason Gatland has gone with a near full-strength side, taking into account the horrific run of injuries that have affected the side.
Tyler Morgan is the latest centre to be given a shot, while maverick fly-half Matthew Morgan gets the nod at full-back as Wales try to cope with their latest casualties, Scott Williams and Hallam Amos having been ruled out of the rest of the tournament.
However it may be absences on the Fiji side that prove just as crucial, with Nemani Nadolo suspended and Nikola Matawalu missing with a calf problem.
In his time in charge of Wales, Gatland has never lost to tier two opposition, with the only defeats during that time coming when Rob Howley coached the team against Japan and Samoa.
Fiji are certainly a much better team than they were four years ago, when they were hammered 66-0, but with only pride left to play for, it remains to be seen if they can spring a surprise.
Of course they have had a much longer preparation time, having not played since their loss to Australia in Cardiff a week ago.
In that game they were the side coming off a four-day turnaround so theoretically they should have the upper hand from a fitness standpoint.
That wasn’t the case in their opening game against England however, where they faded in the last ten minutes, while Wales did the complete opposite in their comeback win.
Wales have slipped up in games like this in the past, but it’s yet to happen under Gatland, and with some key men out, it seems unlikely Fiji will become the first to do so.
The teams:
- Wales: 15 Matthew Morgan, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Aaron Jarvis, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 James Hook.
- Fiji: 15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Lepani Botia, 11 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Akapusi Qera (c), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Tevita Cavubati, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Maafu.
Replacements: 16 Viliame Veikoso, 17 Peni Ravia, 18 Leeroy Atalifo, 19 Nemia Soqeta, 20 Malakai Ravulo, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Joshua Matavesi, 23 Kini Murimurivalu.
- Date: Thursday, October 1
- Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
- Kick-off: 16:45 local
- Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
- Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
- TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
- Full Pool Previews – Click Individual Pool Below
—